Margaret L. Donaldson

Margaret Lucille Laipple was born in Ackley, Iowa on March 15, 1923. She passed away the morning of December 15, 2012 of natural causes. She attended Iowa State Teachers College and taught high school for one year before deciding she wanted an adventure. It was during the war that she moved west to Southern California and lacking teacher’s credentials in California she took a job as a dental assistant at a nearby air base. While scheduling a physician’s appointment one day she was told that her regular doctor was no longer there but another doctor, Clarence Donaldson, would see her. The doctor-patient relationship soon turned into romance and the two were married some time later. Soon after the birth of their second child, Clarence (Bud) and Margaret were recruited to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico to help run the newly opened Bella Vista Hospital in an underserved part of the island. Puerto Rico became their home where Margaret and Bud raised three children. Margaret worked tirelessly as church organist, school librarian, substitute housekeeper, founder of hospital volunteer services (Candy Stripers), unofficial welcome-wagon, local historian, tourguide and of course, mother and devoted wife. Recognizing a shortage of nurses, Margaret studied nursing in spanish and earned a degree graduating top of her class at the age of 50. After 27 years in Puerto Rico, Margaret and Bud returned to Southern California where to semi-retire. Margaret became active in the Women’s Auxiliary of the Loma Linda University School of Medicine Alumni Association serving as president and she was also honored as their 1994 Woman of the Year. After Bud passed away in 1996 she said that getting involved in the “White House”, a thrift shop for students, saved her life. Margaret underestimated and downplayed her accomplishments always deflecting praise to others. But she had an impact on many and she leaves the world a better place. She is survived by her three children, Terre Donaldson Ilardi, Jim and Tom and seven grandchildren.